Marijuana industry sets environmental, ethical goals

An alliance of large marijuana businesses had a message for the public Tuesday: We’re good corporate citizens.

The 45-member Global Cannabis Partnership, which includes Canopy Growth Corp. and other companies operating in the sector, issued guidelines aimed at minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting ethical conduct and responsible pot use.

The emerging legal industry is “in a unique position to set a new bar for socially responsible practices,” the group’s executive director, Kim Wilson, said in a statement.

As the once-illegal marijuana economy evolves into a multibillion-dollar industry backed by a flood of investment dollars, the guidelines appeared aimed at assuring consumers that those companies are operating with public interests in mind, not just the bottom line.